Obit: Merlin C. Skadsem

Merlin C. Skadsem, 58 of Devils Lake, N.D., passed away on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home Chapel, Devils Lake with Rev. Lyle Belleque, Pastor, Peace Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services.
Merlin Clyde, son of Rueben and Delores (Olson) Skadsem was born on May 9, 1954 in Devils Lake, N.D. He was raised in the St. Michael and Tokio, N.D., area where he attended a country school. He later attended Warwick Public School.
erlin was united in marriage to Patricia Bachmeier on November 30, 1974 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. They established their home in the St. Michael area until the rising waters of Devils Lake forced them to relocate. They then moved to Lakewood and eventually into Devils Lake during their 38 years of marriage.
One of Merlin’s first jobs was with the Culvert Plant at St. Michael where he was employed for 10 years. He then worked as a heavy equipment operator for Bradshaw Construction for several years.
Merlin’s work ethic and many talents meant that he could start working on garbage truck and eventually head the City of Devils Lake Sanitation Department.
Although proud of his accomplishment, Merlin enjoyed heavy equipment operation and being a “blade man.” This passion led him back to road construction at the end of his career.
When Merlin did take a break from work, he enjoyed deer hunting, 4-wheeling and snowmobiling with his family and friends. Many will remember his mechanical ability and the "Oh My" Ford that he put together. Identifying with the grit of the Pittsburg Steelers, Merlin could be heard inside AND outside wherever the game was shown on Sundays.
Our lives will be difficult without Merlin but he wouldn’t want us to consider his death a burden on our hearts. We will keep him in our memories forever.
Merlin is survived by his wife Patricia; children Melissa Skadsem of Devils Lake and Adrian Skadsem and his wife, Holly of Lonsdale, Minn.; grandchildren, Blake Skadsem also of Devils Lake and Brooke Hoenhause of Lisbon; eight brothers and sisters and their spouses Ray and Kim Skadsem and Lyle Skadsem all of Devils Lake, Roger Skadsem of Doyon, N.D., David and Laurie Skadsem of Jamestown, N.D., Loren and Annie Skadsem of Binford, N.D., Sherry Uhlenkamp of Rugby, N.D., Diane Bachmeier and Steve Hoffart also of Rugby and Lori and Greg Urbach of Lisbon, N.D.; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive.
Merlin was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law Ann Skadsem and father-in-law and mother-in-law Milton and Annie Bachmeier.
Friends may sign the online register book and share memories of Merlin at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com
Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake is handling the arrangements.